The Myth Of Pro Secrets In Photography

[@ThePhotographicEye]

5pts to everyone who tells me I've spelt Henri Cartier-Bresson as Herni :D

[@Anon54387]

Does it get me any shopper points at my local grocer? :)

[@arneheeringa96]

😂

[@Anon54387]

Not really the topic of this video, I realize, but that shot of those soldiers climbing that cliff on the rope ladders. I recently read a LONG book about the Pacific Theater of WW2 and the misery those folks went through is something that people should reflect on from time to time. The sacrifice of that generation to beat back fascism is something that should not be ignored for it has allowed all of us who came after to pursue our own goals in life, no exaggeration.

[@Anon54387]

Could you expand on that line about painting is about adding and photography is about taking away. It perhaps is a little too abstract for me to wrap my brain around.

[@arneheeringa96]

@@Anon54387 I think Alex means with painting you start from scratch and add things, whereas in photography you mostly close in on things and people, excluding things in doing so. Nevertheless also painters should have a photographic eye in order not to include too many things in their paintings. Some painters also used photography to study scenes, as did dutch painter H.W. Breitner.

[@imagepoint9726]

My pro secret is taking seniors out once a month on a photoshoot of the city. These ten of different age and skill teach me so much about different views of what is a good image to them.

[@MonsterCookieMuncher]

I remember something my college tutor said, a person may be able to do something well but not understand the process, the why, the how, but if you understand that process you will be able to replicate it every time you do it. In reality listening to other people's experience is invaluable.

[@Daniel_Zalman]

I don't want to sound elitist, but to be a better photographer (other than practicing as much as possible and looking at the work of great photographers) you need to constantly feed your imagination and inner world. Read great fiction, watch great films, look at paintings, even great music. It helps if you were blessed with some talent...too.

[@daan_z_z]

Totally agree 👍🏻

[@TheAlanPee]

Oh how very true!

[@pierrougne]

So true !🙏👍 What’s is even more important to me is to be and express yourself . Dare to dare and try to go beyond your own boundaries (this could be applied to all matters). Get inspired but find yourself ! If this speaks to you and yourself … it will to others ! Though, no matter ( or so ) what they think!… Pierre

[@Grumpy_Old_Man68]

Nothing elitist about common sense 👍

[@Daniel_Zalman]

@@Grumpy_Old_Man68 Thanks, I initially thought that my qualifier wasn't necessary because anyone who watches Alex's videos regularly is searching for a way to express themselves through photography and would take my modest suggestion the right away. However, the internet has trained (read as "brainwashed") me to not risk offending anyone...I think they call it "micro-aggressions" or "white-privilege." 🤣

[@alexlford]

I always love your simple, thoughtful and philosophical approach. Good stuff!

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you liked it!

[@L.Spencer]

Similar to photography students. The atmosphere at school is very inspiring and encouraging.

[@creative_cozmic]

This video has made me realise a lot of the information out there, especially through KZbin will talk about what you need to do or what you need to have but not really delve any deeper and explain why. On top of that there are so many people commenting who will criticise other people for the choices they make and the approach they take when really they need to know everyone is different and there is no right or wrong.

[@nadominhoca]

This channel is not about photography… its about LIFE!! Spectacular content…

[@louhautdavid6451]

You said this many times in many ways but here I think you hit the nail on the head. They can tell you a thousand truths you'll never hear until one of them makes really sense for you. Then the engine starts and you realize that every movement you make, any decision you take affects your image. I think that's because you found what you wanted to express. You can feel if you get hot or cold. It's something visceral as much as intellectual. And there's a second impact you didn't expected: you see other's images differently. You understand more than before. I've been virtually blind for many years. I can't tell if my photos are really better than before, I mean from an outside perspective, but at least I know more what I'm doing and I hope I could make more than disparate images.

[@robyn_roamz]

Food for thought, Alex. The idea that photographers take away things is something that has been playing in the back of my mind for a while. I see something that is interesting, but there is so much 'stuff' around it that I want to be gone. That has been a challenge.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Once you get a handle on how narrow down on the ideas you like, it becomes a lot easier.

[@robyn_roamz]

My hubby used to tell me I have a butterfly mind.

[@creative_cozmic]

@@ThePhotographicEye Narrowing down is very much what I've been doing for the last 5 years. I shoot with minimal equipment and am now focusing my photography to a small area in the city I live in, rather than constantly trying to photograph in lots of different places each time and never really getting to know the places well enough. The challenge for me is to use one prime lens (it's all I currently have) and make repeated trips to an area I will eventually get to know so well I will be able to find new potential the more I go there. The idea is to use the time of day, the changing weather and different seasons to change the way I see things too.

[@GurungyNoHamuster]

Predominantly a musician, I think this probably applies to many technical arts. It's a great and useful observation.

[@WolfgangToeglhofer-gm9ep]

Merry Christmas Alex, all your videos are inspiring, please continue

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you, you to.

[@Rich_Warne]

As you suggest towards end of this video find interviews with photographers you admire, you can often pick up great tips. Stephen Shore is great for this sort of thing

[@stevenjb.9275]

Your photo at 7:05 - the Arches. Drawn to the strength and presence of the image. Thanks for the 5pts.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad you like it - I took it in Edinburgh - on the Cowgate.

[@Daniel_Zalman]

One of the best pieces of advice I got was from an online lectures about using some of the principles from painting in one's photography. One that is especially useful is the idea of figure (subject) to ground (background). Does the subject of the painting read? Meaning, is what you want the viewer to see clear? One way to check is to squint your eyes at the scene. Everything just becomes colors and tones. Can you differentiate the subject from the background? If not, it's probably because you have a light subject against a light background or a dark subject against a dark background. TL:DR The eye searches for the area of greatest contrast. You want to direct the viewers eye using the composition, which includes the figure to ground relationship.

[@BachPianist]

… yes, and if it was possible to squint one’s hearing, it wouldn’t be necessary with Pogorelich, Gould or Horowitz!😉

[@Daniel_Zalman]

@@BachPianist A+.

[@ddsdss256]

As you say, it's not always easy to connect (really, not just via social media) with other artists and for some, that's fine, as there's certainly space for autodidacts (/introverts) and there are many other resources out there. As in any artform, photography is more about mental attitude than anything else, and that's what's going to affect what and why you shoot more than any technical considerations. Books can be a great source of training/inspiration if you focus on those that emphasize the philosophical aspects (of any artform--it all relates), including criticism and "how to see" rather than which gear/settings to use. Of course, inspiration is everywhere and channels such as yours can help open people's minds as to new avenues of experimentation, so thanks for sharing your experience, ideas and, enthusiasm.

[@peterschlicht]

Alex, I enjoy listening to you! Inspiring, genuine and touching the topics each of us questions. Keep it going! Cheers, Peter

[@ThePhotographicEye]

I appreciate that!

[@evertking1]

The image at 1:05 is so damn good Alex.

[@NightWLKR1]

I just bought a 16mm lens when I’ve been shooting with a 30mm and I’m excited for the eye opener it will provide me!

[@desmondpainter7313]

I have found youtube videos extremely useful to figure out things like how the dynamic range or metering options work on my camera, but in the end that is like learning how your word processing software works, to an extent. The latter won't make you a better short story writer, and the former won't take you from making a technically good picture to a photograph that is compelling, communicates something about the world and how you see that world, and that makes a viewer say 'why didnt I see that' or 'I have looked at it that way'. This is why your channel became increasingly useful to me once I had most of the tech things down. I much rather listen to you talk about what makes Meyerowitz great than what new lens you bought and how sharp its corners are 😂

[@pieterstrydom1746]

Thank you Alex for another great video. I also thoroughly enjoyed the stunning photos that you attached. Kind regards Pieter

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Many thanks!

[@Daniel_Zalman]

1:07 Wow! Superb image!

[@seaeagles6025]

Hi Alex, great topic as always, also reading photography books and having a Mentor. That was your advice Alex and i am now reading more photography books. Many thanks for your advice. 😊

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Fantastic!

[@waynethorn7218]

The cool thing is that you made a video of this subject. Look how old these cameras that they are using and they produce unbelievable photos. That Salgado photo is like something out of a Ben Hur film, Absolutely phenomenal! Sally Mann’s photos look like paintings👍great video Alex, now where’s that tripod lol

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you for watching

[@TDtog2112]

Inspiring as always. I don't think I have bought as many books on photography as I have since finding your channel which has opened up so many new avenues of photographic topics for me to shoot so I thank you for all you do. 🙂

[@ThePhotographicEye]

That’s awesome

[@Bethos1247-Arne]

every Eggleston photo shown on this channel is an inspiration. How did he do this? Having an every-day, untidy scene, yet telling a story?

[@filmic1]

That was good, photography is the art of taking away, where painting is the art of adding. Interesting. Intuitively one does that if they've been shooting long enough or is an artistic savant.

[@angelamaloney4871]

I largely agree. If you want to be a really good photographer, then you absolutely have to get beyond the talk about camera settings and mere technical stuff. You have to get to a point where your images express something and have something to say. That’s what so many people are lacking. They can operate a camera just fine. But they have nothing to say. But I don’t think most of this is readily doable online. As you’ve pointed out in other videos, most people online are just other beginners. It’s very hard to sift through the majority of useless stuff out there to find the useful material. To do this, I always recommend books. In particular, books by people who write about photography in that conceptual sort of way. If you have people who can talk about it at that level, even among pro photographers, offline or online, then you are very lucky indeed.

[@richardpenhardt6100]

best observation ... it takes one to know one ...

[@chriscard6544]

you are saving my Xmas, I needed an object to think about it

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Glad I could help!

[@chriscard6544]

@@ThePhotographicEye thank you also for Sally Mann and her tree, Im currently working on trees with a 4x5 pinhole camera

[@ThePhotographicEye]

@@chriscard6544 Sounds awesome!

[@chriscard6544]

@@ThePhotographicEye it makes me think a lot about photography. and one answer is a photograph is a 'in between world' that does exist and that doesnt exist.

[@jpdj2715]

As a former lecturer I can enlighten you with the following: a student who knows to ask the right question also knows the answer. In USAnian university where participation may be part of your grade, in times when lecturers were not too worried about political correctness, they called those questions "Asian questions", completely in line with the prejudice of another joke they made back then: have you heard of the Asian school drop-out? They flunked their Ph.D. My country had this (late) world-famous football player that had wisecracks that he offered in his accent from the hood: "you see it when you understand it". A child, generally under 10, cannot see how fast that car is coming. Or a ball is flying. You need 10,000 learning moments to be able to do that.

[@irinasp3723]

The right question is extremely important. Currently I'm stuck when I see something, I feel how it should look, but after capturing my only question is HOW? Maybe it's technical part because I'm shooting on mobile phone, but I don't accept it as an excuse

[@lensman5762]

Excellent ' Pro level ' advice. The problem with you tube photography is that 95% of those taking part in it, do not promote photography, but themselves, or other people's merchandise. The majority of them are nothing but free lance marketing outfits. They really have no advice to give, but to buy more gear.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Don't feel that's strictly true - I just feel that in the majority of the cases, they don't want to 'teach' photography per say, but rather just make videos about what they know. Of course that's fine, each to their own and all that. What is a problem, for me at least, is that they have a narrow field of view when it comes to photography. Not all channels are like that obviously, but a lot are.

[@Riverrockphotos]

I know and all they want to do is talk about the newsiest thing. Who cares a camera is only a tool you don't need the latest and greatest it isn't going to make you a better photographer.

[@Oncewasgolden]

What did you expect from KZbin? People are not here, spending hours editing, filming, and money on equipment, to make nothing for their time and money. Of course, they have to find a way to monetize or they would be out of business. If you want professional level photography instruction, then act like a professional and go spend the money on some formal education program. There are tons of online courses! There is this old saying, “You get what you pay for.” This is true of everything.

[@lensman5762]

I don't expect anything, TBH. Nor is there much in terms of the technical side or the craft of photography they could teach me. I have been taking photographs on/off for nearly 50 years of my life. I am a mechanical engineer by education, and work in engineering, so I have no difficulty understanding the science side of it. The artistic side of photography can not be taught. It can be talked about, discussed or even ' analyzed ' if need be, although I consider the last a futile effort, but even a lot of the technical information passed on is flawed or incorrect . Very few channels, very few try to stimulate the mind of the viewer to start the process of thought that goes with photography as an art form, though. No one has forced these people nor anyone has demanded that they start You Tube channels. They do it for a variety of reasons and making money through promotion and backdoor advertising is one of them. Nothing wrong with it at all, we all need the damned money to live with. What I really object to is when this ' promotion/marketing ' malarky takes over as the main purpose of the channel, particularly when try to be clever and mask it. @@Oncewasgolden

[@Oncewasgolden]

@@lensman5762 sadly, that is the world we live in though. People say they like honesty, but truly they don’t. We think we would like people to be straight forward with us, but then get offended when they do so. It is true no one can teach you the “art” of it but they can point you in the right direction, give you examples, however, what is artistic to them may not be to you. With art there is no “right” way. There is only “what I want to see is right for me”. In seeking others to define or show or point the direction, one is actually stifling their creativity. Art has no rules, only guidelines that can and often do get ignored. Know what you want to say and then you will know how to say it. If you don’t like what a channel is presenting to you or the way they are presenting it, back out and tell KZbin to not recommend the channel. You know how to do this, correct? Just remember when the product is free, you are the product. It is the same everywhere because everyone has bills to pay.

[@johnclay7644]

informative photography content.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@Daniel_Zalman]

Lofty goals for this video!

[@simonchilds2928]

Great Video Alex, nevertheless, I feel that over-intellectualizing photography can suffocate creativity, turning an art of instinct into a chore of thought. As Ansel Adams warned, it's the feeling in an image that matters, not just technical perfection. Henri Cartier-Bresson's advice to shoot your first 10,000 photos as quickly as possible echoes Nike's "Just Do It" ethos: action fuels growth, not overthinking. In essence, while technical know-how is valuable, it's the heart, not the head, that captures the true essence of a moment. So, just shoot it-let spontaneity and emotion be your guide.

[@chriscockett106]

Absolutely agree. We spend a huge amount of time learning about it, only to mourn the inner child, who responded without an agenda and carried no baggage. The folly of education! I had just posted that on another KZbin channel!

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Thanks for sharing.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thanks for watching!

[@duncansteward4331]

One skill that is often missing, is the skill to listen --- and observe. All to often people want to be the center and talk.

[@Ovalds]

Can you tell, which photographer's quote it is in 2.35?

[@jonellison9832]

Art Photography is an almost unique amalgam of art and science. The science bit is easy to get your head around, the art bit is more difficult. Once you are a competent camera operator study visual art. Talk to artists, go to art galleries and read art books. There are no shortcuts. Any KZbin video or written article that uses the term "hints and tips" needs to be ignored. Not all photographers are artists. A "Pro" photographer is someone who makes and sells photographs, Not necessarily an artist. A police forensic photographer is not an artist, they're not allowed to be creative. A good place to start is buy a sketch book and a pencil.

[@flightographist]

I get your point but you chose a poor analogy in forensic photography...Alphonse Bertillon? Arthur Fellig, aka Weegee?, have you not discovered their work?

[@green856w]

Better to ask a question and feel a fool for 5 minutes, rather than not ask it and risk being a fool forever.

[@juanadan8003]

Merry Crismas for you and congratuleisons for you fotógraphy You speak de fotography realmente Sorry i'm not speak englis

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Merry Christmas

[@Bethos1247-Arne]

I am trying of think about a way to agree more but I can't. Indeed. All this talk about lenses, new sensors, iso, esoteric concepts like microcontrast, the daily fullframe sensor debate and so on. That is all stuff measurable in a laboratory but a laboratory can't measure how good a photograph is. One needs to talk with other photographers about, well, photography.

[@alandargie9358]

I think "there is a couple of..." is correct because it is one couple!

[@d.k.1394]

Good

[@foisonurlubu4303]

Salgado gold mine is in the state of Para, not Amazonas !!!

[@scanningforvideos]

I wish I wasn't being interupted by so many long ads whilst trying to concerntrate on the important information being given in this video. Such a shame.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

KZbin seem to be pushing more and more long form ads recently. I've noticed it a lot on some of the documentary channels I watch.

[@Daniel_Zalman]

There are ads on KZbin? 🤣

[@Bigtbone205]

KZbin premium is the answer. You get youtube music for free with it. It costs about the same as Netflix but I honestly get far more value from it than Netflix or any other streaming service

[@saxmangeoff]

Content like this in exchange for a few annoying ads is a great bargain in my mind!

[@davidwilson7291]

Get yourself adblocker and enjoy no ads, it blocks them.

[@daemon1143]

It boils down to experience and the natural undisciplined desire of the apprentice to short circuit all the time as journeyman and leapfrog straight to master. After all, the apprentice can more or less work their equipment, the rest must be easy, if only those old bastards would explain the trick. Yet, when told the trick is to look at a lot of masterworks, take a lot of photos, and reflect on what you think of your own performance, they think that they’re being cheated.

[@d.k.1394]

Most photographers do not have a clue

[@Phodography]

Okay… interesting but… The secret is that pros talk to each other… that’s why their photographs are better because they share common knowledge… I think that’s a bit of a stretch. That said, it’s a good lead in to sell a course.

[@creative_cozmic]

Why is it a stretch? What makes you think that?

[@Phodography]

⁠@@creative_cozmicpeople at all levels are searching for information when it comes to developing a specific skill set within their chosen discipline. Claiming that professionals create better images simply because they understand the power of seeking knowledge and referring to this as a secret was the basis of my comment.

[@kodithebear]

The secret = Put yourself in front of people and places 🤣

[@MaxP374]

My favourite chanel.

[@ThePhotographicEye]

Thank you

[@andreas_trnka_photography]

Try to stop the chatter in your brain. Do not think. Be totally aware of the moment. Than you truly can see.

[@robertleeimages]

I've stopped watching & unsubscribed to a lot that i use to watch because they all became condescending with their "this is how pro's, what the pro's don't want you to know, secret pro tips for X, bla bla bla" content. Example, You don't need to be a pro to know about bbf or which focus mode to use for certain subjects or scenes, or shutter speed to focal length to avoid camera shake(which mind you they all assume everyone uses full frame)

[@JeffreyLear]

You lost me with that "one pro secret".